Network Rail

Health Surveillance for Silica and Asbestos and the Management of Diagnosed Occupational Respiratory Conditions - Compliance Date: 3 June 2017
 N NR/L2/OHS/157 ISSUE 1

Annotation

This standard describes the process of health surveillance for Network Rail employees, both current and prospective, who, by nature of their role, could potentially be exposed to a hazardous substance in the form of an airborne contaminant through the course of their work.

The standard describes health surveillance processes that:

a) establish the baseline respiratory status of a new employee, undergoing a level 1 competence specific medical;

NOTE: For further information on competence specific medicals see NR/L2/OHS/00124.

b) establish the respiratory status of current employees dependant on exposure;

c) detect the early signs of developing or worsening respiratory conditions linked to an exposure to an airborne contaminant used in the work environment;

d) identify and protect vulnerable employees such as those with pre-existing respiratory health conditions e.g. asthma, to prevent the condition from worsening;

e) confirm employees’ fitness to continue undertaking work with an exposure to an airborne contaminant; and

f) support evaluation of mitigations implemented to control exposure to respiratory hazards.

This standard does not apply to other forms of exposure to hazardous substances, such as ingestion and absorption.

This standard applies to:

a) new and existing employees who could potentially be exposed to a hazardous substance in the form of an airborne contaminant through the course of their work;